John certainly helped us achieve it. Since the building has been completed, it has become one of the favourite locations for students
Patrick Hanlon
Our early discussions with the local authority suggested that the location of the building within a conservation area would limit the amount of external modifications that could be made. There was also a planning policy in place which required a robust planning case to be made to justify the loss of a hotel, even one which had not been used for several years.
To meet the brief, we needed to demonstrate how remodelling the existing roof to maximise the provision of study bedrooms could be completed, without adversely affecting the conservation area. We achieved this by completing a detailed visual impact assessment to support the planning application. The assessment showed the massing of roof modifications within the context of surrounding buildings, from a number of key viewpoints.
We achieved planning success first time and went on to complete technical design, building control submissions and onsite liaison with the contractor, to help deliver thirty five spacious study bedrooms in one of the most exciting locations in Hastings.
The project was one of several that we completed for the same client, all of which required the application of our knowledge of student accommodation design. An additional challenge was to meet the strict requirements of the University of Brighton student accommodation team. The floor plans were designed in a ‘cluster’ formation, with no more than six study bedrooms sharing a kitchen and dining room. Key to the design, and something that posed a particular problem was that each study bedroom also required an ensuite shower room, something the university requested and which helped to increase the overall value of the scheme.
‘John helped us achieve an increased level of accommodation beyond that which had previously been advised by the local council. The location of the building, directly on the sea-front, demanded an optimum solution and he certainly helped us achieve it. Since the building has been completed, it has become one of the favourite locations for students and has attracted praise from the University of Brighton.’ – Patrick Hanlon, Chief Executive, Roost Group Limited.
